HAODS - For the best entertainment in live theatre, together with top quality drama - amdram at its best, Henley Operatic & Dramatic Society has it all. Performing at the Kenton Theatre, Henley-on-Thames, NODA award winning HAODS musicals and plays are renowned for excellence.

I must begin my Chairwords with a big apology to those of you who receive their StageWhispers by post. Only recently when I went to pick up some printing at Higgs did I discover that the August 2011 edition had not been collected – and to top it all the October edition did not get printed at all! Now, I know that you are all hungry for news, and in some ways this is very encouraging because now I know that even though sometimes we publish things in the newsletter and it sometimes does not get read, that you all really miss it when it does not come! So we have a lot to catch you up with; news for future events, 100 Club winners, Club Room Lunch Dates. This is going to be one long read. So, plump up the cushions, get the kettle on, settle down with your feet up and read on all those of you who have been starved of StageWhispers!........

Committee Contacts: Anyone who does not have a copy of the illustrated version of your committee with a full breakdown of their tasks, please do not hesitate to give me a shout and I will get a copy sent to you. Firstly, on a sad note, we have lost two members to the great curtain call in the sky recently, Anthony Head, eldest son of Barbara and Brian Head, passed away on the 16th November 2011, aged just 46, after a year long struggle against cancer. He leaves his wife Caroline and three children, Lewis, George and James. He had been a member of HAODS for many years, performing in such shows as Carousel and Chicago - in which he played the crooked lawyer Bill Flynn, with great relish! (Yes, HAODS recognised its potential before it ever got to the West End!) I sent condolences to the family on behalf of the Society.

But, the show must go on, and I am sure that Anthony and Christine would want it so. Our next event is to be 'Keep It Under Your Hat' on 4 February. This is a surprise 90th Birthday party for Leah – so if someone is reading this to her... STOP NOW...just – well – keep it under your hat! Leah Corlett, veteran of I cannot begin to tell you how many HAODS and Henley Players’ shows, is 90 years young on January 30. (yes, she was born the same year that HAODS produced its first Musical, The Mikado.) She has been everything from beauty to bag lady. I once dubbed her “the best old bag in the business” – a title which she has treasured for many years. Now the President of the Henley Players, she has won numerous Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress awards - including one for playing a horse in Animal Farm when we could not even see her face! You could be the best actor/actress in the world... but if Leah was on stage with you, even if she just had a walk on - you may as well give up! You have heard of the old adage “Never work with children or animals”, well, HAODS and Henley players have adopted a new one. ““Never work with children or animals – or Leah Corlett!" YOU CAN READ THIS PART TO LEAH – The evening will be very entertaining, with Raymond Burton entertaining us in his own inimitable style with a broad mixture of songs from the shows, popular ballads, some old classics pepped up with some rock’n’roll and audience participation. He will be accompanied by David Harrison on the keyboard and Paul Netherton on the drums. Come and join us for a great night out. Just £10 including a pizza and salad supper. A bar will be provided. Tickets from Ann Jenkin – contact her at jenkinann@yahoo.co.uk.

A Dickens of an Evening, a Studio Production, follows this on Friday and Saturday 17 and 18 Feb, at 8:00pm. We all know that Charles Dickens wrote lots of novels including Oliver Twist, and he also wrote numerous short stories, poetry and articles over the course of his life. But did you know that he had little or no schooling and that his father was sent to Marshalsea Debtors prison? Follow his own remarkable rags to riches story from debtors prison to Fleet Street hack culminating in world renowned author. To celebrate his 200th Anniversary, spend a delightful evening documenting the life and times of this enduring author, in the company of some of his most colourful characters with even more colourful monikers that pepper his literary career. Meet the likes of Mr Sloppy, Wopsle, Bumble, Scrooge and Sweedlepipe. Hardly everyday names encountered on the streets of London. These names were purely the product of Dickens' unique imagination, which would often befit the characters. A selection of Books by Charles Dickens will be on sale during the evenings, by courtesy of the Bell Bookshop. Get your tickets from the Bell Bookshop or call the booking line on 07514 054 384. Adults £7, Children £5.  Refreshments available.

Our Spring production of Jack the Ripper, The Musical follows in April – more about this with the cast list in a separate article. This will be followed by our Annual Fun Run. HAODS Annual May Day Fun Run falls on May 7 2012, but this year, the starting line will be in a different place, at Temple Island Meadows, thanks to the support of The Copas Partnership who own the land. For the past few years, since Regatta Meadows has flooded, the Regatta Committee have been reluctant to allow us to allow car parking on the Meadows as they quite rightly need to protect the ground for the main event – The Royal Regatta itself of course. This has had something of an effect of reducing the numbers. The route of the run will remain the same, we will simply start and finish in a different place. We also hope to put a lot more 'fun' into the Fun Run this year, and by using Temple Island Meadows as the start of the run, it will mean that we can park cars close to the start and give us an opportunity to make the day more of a family fun day, with prizes for the best costumed runners, catering facilities and perhaps even a bouncy castle encouraging runners to bring their families, to stay for picnics and enjoy a full day out. Why not start training now and join in the fun! The run is just 5.3 miles - and passes a pub on the way so you can pop in for a quick one if you are desperate! There are trophies in every category and every runner gets a medal. This year the run is being masterminded by Richard Evans. He will be calling for race marshals closer to the date. Also apply to him if you want to enter the run. He can be contacted on 07779 587 868 or at richard357@sky.com. 

The lucky 100 Club winners of the recent draws are as follows:

September 2011: Joyce Walden
October 2011:Laurie Anness
November 2011:Midge Young 
December 2011: Jean Collins 
Christmas Draw 2011 £75: Peggy Wilcock

If you would like to participate in the 100 Club draw and have the opportunity to win £50 every month it is just £2.50 per month. Contact Karen DuPlessis for more information.

February's Club Room Lunch will be on the same day as the Dickens of an Evening, 18 February, when our very own mega-gourmet Chef, Susan (she of the 90th Birthday Cake fame) will be preparing our meal. March's lunch will be on 17 March, with Christine Jarvis holding the spatula. We do need some volunteers for help on these dates, so please let Ann Jenkin know if you would like to help at either, or indeed, run to lunch yourself. She can be reached on 07712 003 133 or at jenkinann@yahoo.co.uk. 

Finally (and I hear you say “Phew!”) Talking of Studio Productions, we need an idea for the Summer half term. If you have any ideas for a small cast play that you would like to stage then please let me know. Don't worry if you have not directed before - you can be mentored through the process and it may be a good way for a new director to get started!

All that is left to say is HAPPY NEW YEAR. May it be a good one for HAODS and all of its members.

Julie Huntington
Chair

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